Koraput: Two incidents have further fuelled tension in the disputed Kotia panchayat along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. In one instance, officials from Odisha stopped a team from Andhra Pradesh from installing solar panels in 36 houses at Upper Sembi village. In another incident, Odisha police stopped efforts by Andhra govt officials and police to mobilise voters ahead of the Nov 3 panchayat election.The incidents came a day after Odisha govt moved Supreme Court challenging Andhra Pradesh’s decision to hold elections in the disputed panchayat.“Solar panels were brought for installation at 36 houses in Upper Sembi, but we prevented the team from installing them,” Koraput sub-collector Fabi Rasheed told TOI.In a separate incident, Andhra officials and police made an attempt to mobilise voters ahead of the election to the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC). Odisha police objected to the activity, preventing the team from the neighbouring state from campaigning.The two incidents have heightened tension in the border region, where Andhra Pradesh has continued its election-related activities and development initiatives despite Odisha’s objections.“At least two platoons of security personnel have been deployed in Kotia to prevent any untoward incident. The deployment of additional forces will be decided based on the situation,” Rasheed added.Odisha police have intensified surveillance across the 21 disputed villages, with senior officers, including additional SP and the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), conducting patrolling and door-to-door visits to monitor the situation and reassure residents.“We are keeping a close watch on the border villages. Police personnel are visiting villages regularly to maintain law and order and prevent any disturbance to peace,” said Pottangi tehsildar Debandra Dharua.The Kotia dispute has been a longstanding source of friction between the two states. Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have made competing claims over 21 of the 28 villages in Kotia panchayat, and the matter has been pending before Supreme Court since 1968. The proposed election has added a fresh dimension to the dispute.